Our View: Is anyone watching?

Thursday

Apr 24, 2014 at 6:00 PM

Things at Government Center are not always as they appear.

Such is the case with the dozen dome “security cameras” with flashing LED lights recently mounted in city hall stairwells and elevators, and the flat white “surveillance cameras” placed outside the mayor's and city clerk's offices. It turns out these cameras are just for show.

Herald News Editorial Board

Things at Government Center are not always as they appear.

Such is the case with the dozen dome “security cameras” with flashing LED lights recently mounted in city hall stairwells and elevators, and the flat white “surveillance cameras” placed outside the mayor’s and city clerk’s offices. It turns out these cameras are just for show.

Although these inexpensive decoy devices may offer some semblance of security and have a deterrent effect against potential crimes, the fake cameras also touched off a sense of paranoia among some Government Center staff and officials, who were caught off guard by what appeared to be an elaborate — and expensive — surveillance system that no one was informed of and was never approved by the City Council.

The need for security enhancements — and the appropriate means of doing so at Government Center — is a debate city residents and officials are now engaging in after the story behind these devices was revealed in The Herald News. Although these “cameras” only cost the city $150, are they more trouble than they’re worth?

While the rationale behind the devices deserves an explanation, the administration — understandably — doesn’t want to discuss security issues in a public forum. Still, the council and public — along with Government Center staff — have a right to get answers to some basic questions.

Is there a security improvement plan currently in place? What is the proper amount of security for the building? What are the administration’s security goals for the building? How much would that cost? These are all questions that the administration can answer without getting into specifics that would undermine security.

Meanwhile, there is also the question of a security upgrade for the treasurer’s office at Government Center. A loan order for the work — and other projects — was approved by the City Council in 2012, but the money was diverted for other upgrades that had nothing to do with security.

Fake security cameras. Unanswered questions. Redirected funds. An incomplete security upgrade project. If the cameras were real, are we sure they’d be pointed in the right direction?

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